Isotretinoin exposure in pregnant women in Korea.

Objective: Isotretinoin is a notorious teratogen otherwise used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Some countries, including those in North America and the European Union, implemented the pregnancy prevention program (PPP); however, no PPP has yet been established in South Korea. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of pregnant women exposed to isotretinoin among the callers of the Korean Mother Safe Counseling Center.

Pregnancy outcomes in women reporting exposure to ofloxacin in early pregnancy.

This study aimed to analyse perinatal outcomes in ofloxacin-exposed pregnancies. This prospective study was conducted on 143 singleton pregnancies between January 2001 and April 2014, after oral ofloxacin exposure in the first trimester. A total of 33 exposed mothers were compared with 110 age-matched controls who were not exposed to teratogen.

Etiological evaluation of repeated biochemical pregnancy in infertile couples who have undergone fertilization.

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether there are any notable etiologies for repeated biochemical pregnancy (RBP) and, if so, to compare those etiologies associated with repeated spontaneous abortion in infertile couples who have undergone fertilization (IVF).

Methods: Forty-four infertile couples who underwent IVF and experienced RBP were included in this study. RBP was defined as more than 2 early pregnancy losses that occurred before the detection of a gestational sac, with ectopic pregnancies specifically excluded by serial serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin evaluation.

Pregnancy outcomes in women reporting ingestion of levosulpiride in early pregnancy.

This study aimed to evaluate pregnancy outcomes of women who were inadvertently exposed to levosulpiride in early pregnancy. All 162 consecutive singleton pregnant women counselled through the Korean Motherisk Program, Cheil General Hospital, between April 2001 and April 2014, on teratogenic risk after inadvertent exposure to levosulpiride in early pregnancy were enrolled in this study. The women were exposed to levosulpiride at median 4.

Could a first-trimester blood phosphatidylethanol concentration ⩾4 nM be useful to identify women with moderate-to-heavy prenatal alcohol exposure who are at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes?

It is accepted that blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) concentrations are reliable biomarkers of ethanol (alcohol) exposure. We therefore conducted a preliminary study to test the hypothesis that elevated blood PEth concentrations can help to identifying women with prenatal alcohol exposure who are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study included 35 first-trimester pregnant women who self-reported alcohol ingestion and had PEth blood concentration ⩾4 nM at recruitment.

Simple high-throughput analytical method using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in urine.

Background: Since the urinary concentration of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a reliable biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke, we developed a relatively simple high-throughput chromatographic method to quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in the general population.

Methods: The high-throughput analytical method was developed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to identify and quantify total urinary NNAL concentrations in 10 non-smokers and 15 otherwise healthy smokers.

Results: Loss of nitric oxide at m/z 30 was found to be the predominant mass transitioned, and therefore was used as the SIM transition to quantify both NNAL and NNAL-methyl-d3 in urine.

Resistance of uterine radial artery blood flow was correlated with peripheral blood NK cell fraction and improved with low molecular weight heparin therapy in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

Problem: To investigate whether peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cell levels are associated with uterine blood flow, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment is effective to improve uterine blood flow in women with decreased uterine blood flow and unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Method Of Study: This was a prospective controlled study. Study population included 33 pregnant women (between 5 and 7 weeks gestation) with ≥ 2 RPL and controls were 47 healthy pregnant women.

Dose-response and time-response analysis of total fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium as a biomarker of prenatal alcohol exposure.

Objectives: Little is known on how the dose and timing of exposure co-influence the cumulative concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium. The objective of the study was to assess the cumulative concentration of FAEEs in meconium as a biomarker of light, moderate, or heavy prenatal alcohol exposure occurring at either first, second, or third trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods: History of prenatal alcohol exposure was obtained in the 34th week of gestation from 294 pregnant women.

Characterization of phosphatidylethanol blood concentrations for screening alcohol consumption in early pregnancy.

Objective: Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is formed endogenously by the direct action of ethanol, and has a half-life long enough to make it a reliable biomarker of alcohol exposure in early pregnancy. In this study, we aimed to characterize PEth blood concentrations to differentiate different levels of alcohol exposure in pregnant women.

Methods: The study consisted of 305 consecutive pregnant women who had been referred to our hospital for antenatal care.

Disease specific characteristics of fetal epigenetic markers for non-invasive prenatal testing of trisomy 21.

Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing of trisomy 21 (T21) is being actively investigated using fetal-specific epigenetic markers (EPs) that are present in maternal plasma. Recently, 12 EPs on chromosome 21 were identified based on tissue-specific epigenetic characteristics between placenta and blood, and demonstrated excellent clinical performance in the non-invasive detection of fetal T21. However, the disease-specific epigenetic characteristics of the EPs have not been established.

Non-invasive detection of fetal trisomy 21 using fetal epigenetic biomarkers with a high CpG density.

Background: Non-invasive prenatal test of trisomy 21 (T21) is being researched using fetal specific epigenetic biomarkers present in maternal plasma. We applied a methyl-CpG binding domain-based protein (MBD) method based on epigenetic characteristics of fetal specific-methylated regions with a high CpG density in HLCS on chromosome 21 and RASSF1A on chromosome 3 for the non-invasive detection of fetal T21 and estimated the diagnostic accuracy of the method.

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted with maternal plasma collected from 50 pregnant women carrying 40 normal and 10 T21 fetuses.

Fetal and neonatal outcomes in women reporting ingestion of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) during pregnancy.

Maternal intake of licorice from dietary sources has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. We prospectively studied the outcome of 185 singleton pregnancies who took over-the-counter or naturopathic formulations containing licorice during their pregnancy, and 370 age-matched singleton pregnant controls that were not exposed to any potential teratogen. The indication in 56.

Blood levels of phosphatidylethanol in pregnant women reporting positive alcohol ingestion, measured by an improved LC-MS/MS analytical method.

Objective: A reliable biomarker of low alcohol exposure during pregnancy is needed to clarify the controversy on the teratogenicity of low-to-moderate alcohol levels.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 13 pregnant women who self-reported alcohol ingestion between 2.5 and 20 drinks/week, and from 26 controls.

Thyroid autoimmunity and its association with cellular and humoral immunity in women with reproductive failures.

Problem: thyroid autoimmunity (TAI), which is T helper (Th)1-cell-mediated autoimmunity to thyrocytes, is associated with increased risk of miscarriages and highly prevalent in women with infertility. We aim at investigating the prevalence of TAI in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) or unexplained infertility (UI) and its relationship with cellular and humoral immune abnormalities.

Method Of Study: prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies, anti-nuclear antibody, other non-organ-specific antibodies (NOSAs; anti-dsDNA, anti-ssDNA, anti-histone, anti-Scl70), peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cell levels (%) and cytotoxicity, and CD3(+) /CD4(+) Th1/Th2 cell ratios were compared in women with and without TAI.

Immunological modes of pregnancy loss.

During the implantation period, a significant portion of embryos are lost and eventually less than half of clinically established pregnancies end as full-term pregnancies without obstetrical complications. A significant portion of these pregnancy losses is associated with immune etiologies, including autoimmune and cellular immune abnormalities. Although an autoimmune etiology such as anti-phospholipid antibodies (APAs) has been reported to induce placental infarct and thrombosis at maternal-fetal interface, APAs induce inflammatory immune responses as well.

Factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid in the periconceptional period among Korean women.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the factors associated with a positive intake of folic acid (FA) during the periconceptional period among Korean women.

Design: In a cross-sectional study of demographic, obstetric and socio-economic data, history of periconceptional intake of FA and awareness of the benefits of FA supplementation in pregnancy were obtained and analysed using the chi2 test, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis.

Setting: The Maternity School, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Seoul, South Korea, between October 2005 and March 2006.

Dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) gene is not associated with preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The etiology of preeclampsia remains unclear. Recently, it was shown that misregulation of fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of pregnant women results in over-expression of the soluble splice variant of Flt-1, sFlt-1, producing an additional (extra-placental) source of sFlt-1 that can contribute to the etiology of preeclampsia.

Is prenatal childbirth preparation effective in decreasing adverse maternal and neonatal response to labor? A nested case-control study.

Sophrology, based on a combination of Western relaxation therapy and Eastern yoga and meditation might decrease maternal stress during labor. This study aimed to evaluate whether prenatal sophrologic childbirth preparation may decrease maternal and neonatal adverse response associated with delivery. In a nested case-control study, 69 nulliparous, singleton pregnant women who underwent an educational course of sophrologic childbirth preparation were compared to 69 nulliparous, singleton, age- and gestational age-matched pregnant women who did not receive any childbirth preparation.

Exposure to amlodipine in the first trimester of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Objective: To assess the fetal outcome of three hypertensive women exposed to amlodipine. 5 mg/day, in the first trimester of pregnancy. CASE 1: The patient was treated with amlodipine until 7 weeks of gestation.

Perinatal outcome in twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus: a comparative study.

The purpose of this study is to compare perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM) with those unaffected by GDM. A total of 1,154 twin pregnancies who delivered at Cheil General Hospital, between January 1998 and December 2002 were recruited to participate in a retrospective analysis. Out of these twin pregnancies, 37 women were had GDM.

Maternal serum and amniotic fluid inhibin A levels in women who subsequently develop severe preeclampsia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) inhibin A levels are elevated in patients who subsequently develop severe preecalmpsia, and to investigate the correlation between MS and AF inhibin A levels in the second trimester. The study included 40 patients who subsequently developed severe preecalmpsia and 80 normal pregnant women. Inhibin A levels in MS and AF were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Fetal outcome following roxithromycin exposure in early pregnancy.

Objective: Because very little information exists on the fetal safety of roxithromycin, we aimed to extend the knowledge on fetal outcome in pregnant women who were exposed to roxithromycin in early pregnancy.

Methods: Twenty pregnant women inadvertently exposed to roxithromycin during early pregnancy were identified and prospectively followed-up. For comparison, 170 pregnant women matched by age and gravidity, not being exposed to any potential teratogenic agent during pregnancy, were recruited as controls.

Threshold of nuchal translucency for the detection of chromosomal aberration: comparison of different cut-offs.

This study evaluated the sensitivities and false positive rates of the screening test using ultrasonographic measurement of thickness of nuchal translucency (NT) with different cut-offs for chromosomal aberration in a Korean population. We included 2,570 singleton pregnancies undergoing ultrasound between 11 weeks and 14 weeks of gestation in this study. We analyzed the sensitivities of NT alone for screening chromosomal aberration using three cut-offs -2.